Peter d



(No Model.)

P. D. HORTON.

INKSTAND 0R INK CONTAINER.

No. 368,587. Patented Aug. 23, 1887.

Wifnaas E5 fnuemnr u. ruins. Fholo lithngrnphar. Wlshinglon. o. g.

arnr tries.

PETER D. HORTON, OF OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR TO FREDERICK GETOHELL, OF SAME PLACE.

INKSTAND OR INK-CONTAINER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 368,587, dated August 23, 1887.

(No model.)

.To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, PETER D. HORTON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Oakland, in the county of Alameda and State of 5 California, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Inkstands, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates especially to inkstands employed for holding inks of all kinds for re writing purposes, and has for its object the production of a device for preventing thelower end of the pen-holderand upper part of the pen from becoming foul or smeared with ink from the inkstand or holder.

To attain this end myinvention consists, cssentially, of an inkstand having two ink-wells communicating with each other, so that when ink is poured into one well it will rise to a level in the other or opposite well. said wells is of smaller diameter than the other, and in this small well are placed disks or tablets of india-rubber or other soft material, so as to fill the well to a certain height and prevent the pen from being dipped in the ink beyond a fixed point. By this means the penholder is prevented from becoming foul with ink, and the ink'kept in a more fresh and lively condition than heretofore.

In the drawings forming a part of this specification, Figure l is a transverse vertical section through my inkstand. Fig. 2 is also a transverse vertical section through inkstand, showing lower level of contents.

A and A are the two wells of my inkstand, the latter being of smaller diameter than the former. The two wells connect with each other by means of the hole or passage B, made in the lower end of the partition 13".

Within the well A is placed a series of tablets, wads, or disks of some soft materialsuch, for instance, as indiarubber-and of One of such number that when the ink is pouredinto the well A it will pass through the hole B and fill the adjacent well, submerging the tablets or wads, so that when the pen is dipped into 5 this well it will enter the ink only a given distance before the point or nib will strike the face of the upper pad and prevent further progress.

When the ink in the small well above the upper wad has dried up or becomes exhausted to that extent that'the pen will not take up a sufficient quantity, the upper wad is carried to the adjacent or large well A upon-the point of the pen, which enters the face of the wad and permits it to be transferred. By this step an additional depth of ink is had in the well A the point of the pen'being arrested by the upper face of the succeeding wad, as by the former or removed wad, and so on until all the wads contained in the small well are transposed to the large well. By this means not only isthe pen prevented from becoming foul and the point injured by coming in contact with the glass of the inkstand, but the fountain or large well can always be kept closed, and the ink contained therein prevented from dust and rapid evaporation.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, 1s-

The inkstand herein described, which consists in two wells communicating with each other, and one of said wells containing tablets or wads that are interchangeable, for the pur- 75 poses specified.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand and seal.

PETER D. HORTON.

Witnesses:

O. W. M. SMITH, OHAs. E. KELLY. 

